Assistant Coach - Women's Hockey

About the Job

Position Summary

The Assistant Coach, Women’s Ice Hockey, supports the Head Coach in all aspects of operating a nationally competitive NCAA Division I Women’s ice hockey program. Responsibilities include coaching, recruiting, student-athlete development, scouting, video analysis, program administration, and support of the academic and personal success of student-athletes. The Assistant Coach is expected to contribute to a positive team culture and ensure compliance with NCAA, WCHA, and University of Minnesota rules, policies, and procedures.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Coaching and Student-Athlete Development – 35%

• Assist with planning, organizing, and conducting practices, skill instruction, competition preparation, and game-day coaching.
• Provide instruction and development in technical, tactical, physical, and mental aspects of women’s ice hockey.
• Support video breakdown, opponent scouting, game planning, and postgame analysis.
• Contribute to fostering a positive team culture that promotes accountability, sportsmanship, leadership, and competitive excellence.
• Support the academic, personal, and athletic growth of student-athletes.

About the Job

Position Summary

The Assistant Coach, Women’s Ice Hockey, supports the Head Coach in all aspects of operating a nationally competitive NCAA Division I Women’s ice hockey program. Responsibilities include coaching, recruiting, student-athlete development, scouting, video analysis, program administration, and support of the academic and personal success of student-athletes. The Assistant Coach is expected to contribute to a positive team culture and ensure compliance with NCAA, WCHA, and University of Minnesota rules, policies, and procedures.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Coaching and Student-Athlete Development – 35%

• Assist with planning, organizing, and conducting practices, skill instruction, competition preparation, and game-day coaching.
• Provide instruction and development in technical, tactical, physical, and mental aspects of women’s ice hockey.
• Support video breakdown, opponent scouting, game planning, and postgame analysis.
• Contribute to fostering a positive team culture that promotes accountability, sportsmanship, leadership, and competitive excellence.
• Support the academic, personal, and athletic growth of student-athletes.

Recruiting and Roster Support – 30%

• Identify, evaluate, and recruit prospective student-athletes who can succeed academically and athletically at the University of Minnesota.
• Build and maintain relationships with club, prep, junior, high school, and national team coaches, as well as prospects and families.
• Assist with official and unofficial visits, recruiting communications, evaluations, and documentation.
• Support roster management efforts, including retention and re-recruitment of current student-athletes, consistent with NCAA, WCHA, admissions, financial aid, and institutional requirements.
• In coordination with the Head Coach, compliance, and athletics administration, accurately communicate applicable institutional and NCAA processes related to the evolving Division I environment, including transfer processes, NIL-related institutional processes, roster management, and other permissible student-athlete benefits.

Program Administration and Operations Support – 15%

• Assist with team travel, equipment coordination, scheduling logistics, camps/clinics, and other program operations as assigned.
• Support coordination with athletics department staff in compliance, academic support, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, communications, and student-athlete development.
• Complete administrative assignments and reports in a timely and accurate manner.

Compliance and Governance – 10%

• Adhere to and support full compliance with NCAA, WCHA, and University rules, policies, and procedures.
• Participate in required compliance education and complete all required documentation and reporting on time.
• Promote a culture of integrity, rules compliance, and ethical conduct within the program.

External Relations and Other Duties – 10%

• Represent the University and women’s ice hockey program positively with alumni, donors, fans, media, and the broader hockey community.
• Assist with community engagement, camps/clinics, fundraising, promotional activities, and other external initiatives as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Head Coach or athletics administration.

Physical and Travel Requirements

• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and travel extensively for recruiting, competition, and program responsibilities.
• Ability to demonstrate and instruct hockey skills in practice and training environments.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring student athletes
• Collegiate, professional, national team, junior, or other elite-level coaching and/or playing experience in ice hockey.
• Demonstrated knowledge of men's and women’s ice hockey skills, systems, and player development.
• Demonstrated recruiting ability and strong relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of NCAA Division I rules and regulations.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to academic success, student-athlete well-being, and building an inclusive team culture.
• Demonstrated understanding of the evolving Division I athletics landscape, including transfer processes, roster management, NIL-related institutional processes, and related student-athlete benefit rules, with the ability to communicate those processes accurately and compliantly.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior NCAA Division I men’s or women’s ice hockey coaching experience.
• Prior WCHA coaching or playing experience.
• Experience with domestic and/or international recruiting.
• Experience with video scouting, analytics, player development planning, or special teams coordination.
• Experience mentoring student-athletes in a high-performance environment.

About the Department

With more than 140 years of tradition, Gopher Athletics is one of the oldest and most decorated athletics departments in the country. Minnesota was a charter member of the Big Ten Conference. The University of Minnesota sponsors 22 varsity intercollegiate athletic teams and is represented by more than 625 student-athletes who compete in the Big Ten and Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Minnesota has claimed 29 national championships in eight different sports and has won 217 regular-season conference titles and 42 conference tournament championships. Minnesota has also produced 213 Academic All-Americans, which ranks as the tenth most all-time among college and universities. Housed in the historic Dinkytown neighborhood on the northern edge of the University campus, Gopher Athletics is succeeding against a backdrop unique in college athletics, nestled at the heart of a bustling, modern metro area. We are proud of our decorated history, but we are prepared to achieve even greater success in the years to come. Ski-U-Mah!

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $50,000.00 - $120,000.00 annually; depending on education/qualifications/experience 

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type:  Faculty and P&A Staff 

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services 
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online.  To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions.  You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission.  The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  To learn more about diversity at the U:  http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, social media check, and motor vehicle records check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About the U of M

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).

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